Vieille Bourse

The Vieille Bourse in Lille is a historic landmark in the city center, set between the Place du Général-de-Gaulle and the Place du Théâtre. The building was constructed in the mid-17th century in the Flemish Renaissance style, when Lille belonged to the Spanish Netherlands. It forms a square courtyard enclosed by twenty-four identical houses. The complex originally served as a stock exchange for merchants before later becoming the seat of the chamber of commerce. Today, the inner courtyard is home to booksellers, flower vendors, and chess players, and invites you to linger. Coats of arms of regional companies are mounted above the upper windows, while a statue of Mercury crowns the small bell tower.